Flights of fancy with the
stairs
| Apart from playing their functional role of enabling movement between
the floors, staircases help in defining the overall look and feel of a
building, especially a house. |
— Photo: S. Mahinsha
MAKEOVER FOR THE STAIRS: With people becoming particular about the look of
their homes, staircases are becoming sleeker.
Lifts may be the order of the day in high-rise buildings. But
a staircase may prove to be the best option in case of emergencies and power
cuts. The good old stairs will not fail you, and climbing them will help you
remain healthy by burning a few calories.
Staircases often become the only source of exit in case of
emergencies such as fire in buildings. Apart from playing their functional role
of enabling movement between the floors, they help in defining the overall look
and feel of a building, especially a house.
Staircases serve as powerful design elements, presenting
strong vertical lines, rhythm and pattern. For architects, a stairway is an
opportunity for creative and sculptural expression.
Staircase is often overlooked, especially in houses. With
many becoming particular about the look of their homes, this notion is changing.
The immense possibilities of staircases can be explored in terms of location,
material and styles.
The materials that can be used for staircases are endless.
The use of these has become versatile with many varieties of glass, cast iron
and steel being available at affordable rates compare with wood.
Stairs may be of various shapes: spiral, straight, curved or
any of the several other shapes created to suit the circumstances. Spiral
staircases, supported by a central pole, are used in places where space is
limited. Straight run staircases, which need more floor space, are easy to
build.
The staircase has a number of basic components such as the
step, tread, riser, nosing, rise, winders, balusters and many others. The
conventional material used for staircase is timber and many prefer it. The
heaviness of concrete staircase is now being replaced by the transparency of
glass and sleekness of steel. It is the style of balusters that contribute
mainly to the look of the staircase in a building. Balusters are small, light
pillars used on the sides of the steps for supporting the handrails. These are
made of cast iron, wood or aluminium. Intricate patterns are avoided. One can
even go for natural colours or choose from anodising option or go for different
colours by making use of powder coating.
John P.K., a city-based engineer, says the conventional
dog-legged type is commonly used in newly constructed houses, as wood is
expensive. Those who can afford it can use wood in the baluster and tread to
give an aesthetic look. "The dog-legged type are best suited for houses as
staircases are provided only from common spaces like living or dining
rooms," he says.
Geometric staircases are aesthetically pleasing for the eyes.
It will be expensive and will incur five times the cost of the dog-legged type.
Instead of wood, stainless steel is used for handrails to minimise the cost.
Trained persons can only execute the work.
Moreover, the major disadvantage of geometric staircase is
that the width is not uniform.
The dimensions of the staircase are specified in building
rules. The minimum width of the stair should be 90 cm, riser 15 to 17.5 cm and
tread 25 to 30 cm for houses. The riser should be six inches or 15 cm and tread
one foot wide or 30 cm for public buildings. Then, there will be no problems in
moving up and down.
S.ANIL RADHAKRISHNAN
Courtesy: Property Plus, The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/pp/2007/03/31/stories/2007033100510400.htm
